alexander humboldt, autograph (74 Ergebnisse)

Kein Einband. Zustand: Sehr gut. Humboldt, Alexander von (1769-1859) - Autograph letter signed - German (Prussian) geographer, naturalist and explorer. His quantitative work on botanical geography laid the foundation for the field of biogeography. Autograph letter signed "AvHumboldt". 5.5 x 8.5 inch, n.p., n.d. In German, in full: "David reist wahrscheinlich schon �bermorgen ab, also flehe ich da� sie, theurer Freund, morgen Freitags um 4 Uhr (vier Uhr) bei mir essen." Mailing folds, else fine condition. COMES WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY BY ANDREAS WIEMER HISTORICAL AUTOGRAPHS. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Signatur des Verfassers.

Autograph letter signed, one page, 4 x 5 inch, Thursday (no date), in French, brief letter to Joseph-Philippe-Fran�ois Deleuze (1753-1835, 18th-19th-century French naturalist) - concerning an appointment, written and signed in dark ink "Humboldt", attractively mounted (removable) for fine display with a pictureof Alexander von Humboldt (altogether 8,25 x 11,75 inch), with mounting remnants to the upper right corner, and mildsigns of age wear - in fine condition. In parts:"Permettez du grace que je me rende chez Vous aujourd`hui [.], mon excellent ami, vers le 4 1/2 [.] Humboldtjeudi" Translated:"Please allow me to go to You today [.], my excellent friend, around 4 1/2 o'clock [.] HumboldtThursday".

Folio. 3 pp. on bifolium. In French. Highly interesting letter to the diplomat, traveller, and historian Henri Ternaux-Compans who had succeeded Humboldt as editor of the periodical "Annales des voyages, de la g�ographie et de l'histoire" founded in 1819. Humboldt grants a request to "continue to place my name among the editors of the Annales des Voyages" as a courtesy to Ternaux-Compans, who had previously given him access to his collections. However, Humboldt goes to great lengths to explain this personal favour, as he did not usually permit his name to be attached to such projects, given his position. His participation as an editor between 1836 and 1839 had already been a personal favour to the publisher Th�ophile-�tienne Gide, who had "affectionately pressed" him. In a curious request, he asks for his name to be removed in the event that Ternaux-Compans should leave the Annales before Humboldt is "placed among the fossil corpses". - Although his personal involvement appears to have been largely symbolic, Humboldt is highly critical of the publication and offers advice for its improvement. Given the severity of his criticism, he asks Ternaux-Compans not to show the letter to his predecessor Jean-Baptiste-Beno�t Eyri�s, for whom he expresses great admiration as a scientist, or any "person who might tell him about it". For Humboldt, the Annales were from the start, under their first editor Conrad Malte-Brun, "of bleak mediocrity", even if he ranks the journal above the "Bulletin de la Soci�t� de g�ographie de Paris". He attributes this mediocrity to a lack of scientific data and other relevant information: "of astronomically determined positions, of elevation determinations, of indications for average temperatures, of catalogues of maps published abroad, of detailed insights concerning the magnetic stations, of expeditions to the South Pole". Therefore, the Annales is a publication for amateurs, and even for them it is "too jejune", providing no interest to readers who wish to know what is "discovered on the surface of the globe". By contrast, Humboldt praises several German publications, such as Heinrich Christian Schumacher's "Astronomische Nachrichten" and the "Deutsche Vierteljahresschrift", wherein Humboldt himself published. His advice to Ternaux-Compans is to collaborate with people "who possess scientific knowledge in a distinguished manner", naming, e.g., the engineer Pierre Daussy, the cartographer Louis-Isidore Duperrey, and the explorer Louis de Freycinet. He further suggests to translate and publish articles from the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, which is "admirably edited", and, finally, to consult the archaeologist Jean-Antoine Letronne. - Tears to the folds and margins, minimally affecting the text, partly repaired and reinforced with adhesive tape. With a collector's note in pencil. Some browning overall.

12 mo. 3 pp. on bifolium. In French. Highly interesting scientific letter on xyloid lignite as a geological stratum, very likely addressed to the French chemist, mineralogist, and geologist Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847). Humboldt first announces the enclosure of an article on fossil forests in Russia by the Russian philosopher and jurist Aleksandr Kunizyn, as he sees many connections to the recipient's work. He then asks the recipient for "just six lines" on xyloid lignite for his "tableau g�ologique", specifically "the location and extent it occupies, the thickness of the lignite layer", adding some hypotheses of his own: "If you think this is older than the chalk, then it is older than the ball clay with lignite on top of the chalk. Are not your lignites immediately superimposed on the Jura limestone and the oolitic and marly limestone formations placed between the alpine limestone and the chalk?" Humboldt also points to the recent discovery of the geologist Constant Pr�vost of "lignite underneath chalk" near Caen. Finally, Humboldt asks the recipient where he would place the xyloid lignites within an added sketch of geological strata of the Jurassic, commenting: "I know your lignites are not that common, but you can judge by analogy". - The letter can be dated by a recipient's note "avril-mai 1822" and Kunizyn's article "Holzsteine in Russland. Notice sur les couches de Lignite observ�es en Russie par le Prof. Kounizin" that was published in the Biblioth�que universelle des Sciences, Belles-Lettres, et Arts, vol. 19 in March 1822. Alexandre Brongniart would publish his important work on xyloid lignite as part of the Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, vol. 26, in 1823 and the article was published separately later that year as "Des Lignites". Evidently, Humboldt closely followed and supported Brongniart's research on xyloid lignites. In his article, Brongniart mentions that he adopted Humboldt's geographical nomenclature. Beyond Humboldt's "Esquisse d'un tableau g�ologique de l'Am�rique m�ridionale" (1801) no publication of a geological table was finalized. - Some browning.

4to. 2 pp. on bifolium. In French. Highly interesting letter of introduction for the politician and industrialist Jean-Baptiste Marie Chaptal de Chanteloup (1782-1833) that was almost certainly addressed to the Spanish-Mexican mineralogist and chemist Andr�s Manuel del R�o (1764-1849). Considering his "position" and "noble character", Humboldt asks the recipient to support Chaptal also in the name of his distinguished friends Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac and Fran�ois Arago, both chemists like Del R�o. He introduces Chaptal de Chanteloup as the son of the important chemist and politician Jean-Antoine Chaptal (1756-1832), who, as the recipient knows "better than anyone else", has rendered "great services" to the "sciences and the industrial arts". The son, on the other hand, with his experience in managing "major factories, possesses all the knowlege than can make him valuable to Mexico". In closing, Humboldt underlines his personal connection to Chaptal de Chanteloup: "I have known him from his earliest youth, and take a keen interest in his success" (transl.). - Andr�s Manuel del R�o, the likely recipient, professor at the Royal College of Mines in Mexico City and member of several learned societies, did indeed know Jean-Antoine Chaptal, as they studied together under Antoine Lavoisier in Paris in 1791. His acquaintance with Alexander von Humboldt goes back even further, to 1789, when they were both students at the Mining Academy in Freiberg. In 1803/04, during Humboldt's stay in Mexico, the two men renewed their friendship and collaborated on important research with the institutional support of the Royal College of Mines. However, their relationship would later be clouded by events surrounding Del R�o's discovery of the element vanadium. The actual discovery in 1801 was not published in Europe beyond a short note in a Spanish journal, as Del R�o's paper on his discovery addressed to Jean-Antoine Chaptal was lost with the ship carrying it. Humboldt, although skeptical of the discovery (as was Del R�o himself), took samples and a new paper back to Europe. When Hippolyte-Victor Collet-Descotils tested the samples, he could find no proof for a new metal, erroneously confirming instead Humboldt's and Del R�o's suspicion that the substance might be chromium. Therefore, Humboldt decided not to have Del R�o's paper published. In early 1831, the Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstr�m independently discovered the element that he named vanadium, at a moment when Friedrich W�hler was reinvestigating Del R�o's samples at Humboldt's request. Soon after Sefstr�m's annoucement, W�hler confirmed that Del R�o had discovered the same element as early as 1801. Alhough Humboldt gave equal credit for the discovery to Del R�o, Selfstr�m, and W�hler at the session of the French Academy of Sciences on 28 February 1831 and personally informed Del R�o, his friend was subsequently embittered and reproached Humboldt for his negligence decades earlier. Humboldt's announcement of the discovery to the Academy happened only two months after he wrote the letter of introduction for Chaptal de Chanteloup, who would die in Mexico in 1833. - Traces of folds. With a minor tear to the fold and minimal foxing.

4to. 1 p. To an unnamed addressee, fixing a new appointment: Certainement c'est � moi et non � Vous � se plaindre [] que je ne profite pas de Vos bont�s. J'ose Vous demander de venir chez Vous aujourd'hui apr�s midi. Agr�ez les assurances de mon respectueux attachement". Somewhat spotty. Sprache: fr.

Small 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph address and traces of seal. To the German oriental scholar and archaeologist Friedrich Eduard Schulz (1799-1829), requesting a meeting. Apparently, Schulz had attempted to visit Humboldt the previous day, but the two men had missed each other by a few minutes. In his charming letter, Humboldt announces a return visit in order to apologize for "the imprudent pedantry of my new doorman" and to embrace Schulz before his departure: "Un malheureux hazard [!] a voulu que je suis rentr� hier quelques minutes apr�s Vous, mon cher et excellent ami, et que par l'imprudente p�danterie de mon nouveau Portier Vous n'avez pu entrer chez moi. Permettez que je me pr�sente demain matin (Samedi) � dix heures chez Vous, pour Vous faire mes excuses et pour Vous embrasser avant Votre d�part [.]". - After studies in G�ttingen and Gie�en, Schulz relocated to Paris in 1823 to deepen his knowledge of oriental languages. In Paris he was in contact with important scholars such as Alexander von Humboldt and Antoine Isaac Silvestre de Sacy. The letter at hand was probably written ahead of Schulz' departure, in 1826, on a scientific expedition of several years to Asia Minor and Persia. The rediscovery of the Kingdom of Urartu and its language are largely due to this expedition. The expedition ended in tragedy when Schulz and his companions were assassinated in the Kurdish town Baskale. Some of his important records, including copies of 42 inscriptions from the Van Fortress, were later recovered and published. - With a minor tear from breaking the seal.

4to. 1 p. on bifolium. Charming letter of recommendation for the Russian astronomer Ivan Michailovic Simonov (1794-1855). The letter was probably addressed to the Italian astronomer and director of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera in Milan, Oriani Barnaba (1752-1832). Humboldt expresses his regret that he was unable to call on the recipient during a visit to Italy with the Prussian King Frederick William III in 1822 and asks him to welcome the "skillful Professor" Simonov, who "had undertaken the journey around the world with captain Bellingshausen": "J'ai �t� assez malheureux de ne pas pouvoir Vous offrir mes hommages, mon illustre confr�re, lorsque j'�tais � Milan accompagnant mon Roi : aujourd'hui je charge mon digne ami, Mr le Professeur de Simonof, G�ometre et Astronome tr�s distingu� qui a fait le tour du globe avec le Capitaine Bellingshausen, d'�tre aupr�s de Vous l'organe de mes sentiments d'admiration et de d�vouement. Daignez recevoir cet habile Professeur avec la bienveillance qui Vous caract�rise et dont il sentira tout le prix [.]". - As mentioned in the letter, Simonov was a scientific member of the important First Russian Antarcitic Expedition led by Fabian Bellingshausen (1819-21). In 1822 he was confirmed as a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Kazan. From 1823 to 1824 Simonov stayed in Paris, where he was introduced to Alexander von Humboldt. During Humboldt's eight-month expedition to Russia in 1829 the two men met again in Kazan; together they performed geomagnetic experiments. - No direct contact between Alexander von Humboldt and Oriani Barnaba has so far been established, but Humboldt is known to have been familiar with Barnaba's publications. A mutual acquaintance of Humboldt and Barnaba is the Austrian astronomer Karl Kreil. - With traces of folds. Well preserved.

Oblong 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph address. In French. To a secretary or confidant of Denis-Luc Frayssinous (1765-1841), bishop of Hermopolis in partibus and French minister of public instruction, asking for an audience. The reason for Humboldt's unusual request was the search for the child of a Seigneur Gu�not "whom we desire to see placed in Paris". The letterhead is capotioned "Bourges", followed by an illegible address and the information: "The child is thought to be in Bourges". Humboldt reminds the recipient of an earlier request to the bishop and asks for "a few moments' audience" with him: "Je ne sais varier les tours de mes supplications importunes et presque p�riodiques. Vous avez daign� me permettre avec une bienveillance extr�me de Vous rapeller [!], Monsieur, au milieu de l'�t� la pri�re que j'avez os� adresser � S. E. le digne �v�que de Hermopolis relativement � l'enfant du Sr Gu�not que nous voudrions voir plac� � Paris. J'ose Vous supplier d'accorder quelques instants d'audience � cet excellent homme et d'agr�er l'hommage de la consid�ration et du d�vouement affectueux avec lequel j'ai l'honneur d'�tre [.]". - No further links between Alexander von Humboldt and Denis-Luc Frayssinous are documented. Although the circumstances of the letter and the identity of Seigneur Gu�not remain obscure, the text bears testimony to Humboldt's generosity and helpfulness, especially since he alludes to several earlier, "almost regular" supplications to the recipient. A few months after the letter was written, Humboldt had to return to Berlin on the personal orders of King Frederick William III of Prussia, having spent close to twenty years in Paris. - With traces of folds, two large tears, touching the date and text without loss, and one restored tear. One large brownstain from the faulty restoration of one of the tears and minimal foxing.

4to. � p. Thanking an unidentified recipient prior to a publication. Humboldt announces "some observations" concerning the manuscript or proofs that he had received and asks the recipient to send him his "final proof of the letter" before going to press: "Je Vous rends mille et mille gr�ces Monsieur, de Votre obligeant envoi. Je sais bien, que vous pr�f�rez mes conseils a des �loges insignifians [!]. Je ne saurais Vous prouver mieux mon int�r�t. Voici quelques observations : je vous en adresserai d'autres avec la m�me franchise. Veuillez bien m'envoyer avant le tirage Votre derni�re �preuve de la lettre et agr�ez l'expression de ma consid�ration affectueuse [.]". - With traces of folds and minimal foxing.

Large 8vo. � p. on bifolium. To Prince Adalbert of Prussia, thanking for fulfilling him something he had asked for. - Somewhat spotty.

Small 8vo. 3 pp. on bifolium. In French. Highly interesting letter to an unidentified recipient who appears to have served as an intermediary in a sale or an auction with which Humboldt was concerned. The sale might have been in connection with the death of Humboldt's former publisher John Hurford Stone (1763-1818). As early in 1812 Stone had to file for bankruptcy due to the enormous costs of the publication of Humboldt's monumental "Relation historique", the travelogue and scientific report of his Spanish American expedition. Stone's name is mentioned in a short postscript to the letter: "Everything from before the time of the contract with Vendry�s is from M. Stone". - In the letter, Humboldt talks about the potential date of the sale and some objects that are in London: "Concerning the sale, Lannoy thinks that it could take place in the end of July and that the customs information will be sufficient to know what is in London. Since my intervention is only due to my personal interests and since only Mr. Lannoy needs to recognize what is necessary for the good of the creditors, I can only hope that the sale will be effected as quickly as possible. Please send me two lines as soon as your work is entirely finished so that we can meet at M. Lannoy's and arrive at a definite decision about the time of the sale and make the necessary announcements". - John Hurford Stone moved to France in 1792 and saw success as an industrialist. He had to leave France temporarily during the Reign of Terror in 1793/94; upon his return he started a successful publishing house. Following Stone's bankruptcy, the Parisian publisher R. Vendry�s, mentioned twice in the letter, briefly took over Humboldt's great project. Vendry�s only published the "Atlas g�graphique et historique" as part of to the "Relation historique". The first sentence of the letter probably refers to this publication: "My request with M. Maze was futile; he does not remember the posters published by Vendries [!] but he [Vendry�s] could easily inform you about them". Nicolas Maze was the most successful publisher of the "Relation historique": between 1814 and 1826 he published several volumes of Humboldt's ultimately unfinished travelogue. - With collector's note in pencil. Well preserved.

Small 8vo. 2� pp. on bifolium. In French. Charming letter to a close friend, asking for "minuscule corrections" of a text. In a self-described "grand prelude" Humboldt expresses his deep attachment to the unnamed recipient: "in the past weeks you were missed by my spirit and my heart more than ever". The letter can be dated to 1824-25 due to comments about the passing of King Louis XVIII on 16 September 1824 and the beginning of the rule of Charles X: "We had talked about the strength of character that Louis XVIII has so nobly exhibited during his long and painful agony, about that worthy attitude that the people have shown, and about those wise and just measures that the new king has taken from the first days of his rule". Humboldt comments, perhaps jokingly, that "the entire world is content except for my illustrious friend from Jerusalem, who is agitated and believes that the graces are rather distant". The "illustrious friend from Jerusalem" could not be identified. The text that he originally sent with the letter was apparently "riddled with proper names and numbers". Humboldt urges the recipient to perform his corrections "with the despotism that makes life so easy for a work-shy subject". In closing, Humboldt asks the recipient to indicate a time for their next possible meeting and sends warm greetings to his family. - Two French publications by Humboldt are likely candidates for his corrections. In the summer of 1825, the fifth instalment of his important "Relation historique" appeared: this part of the monumental report of Humboldt's Spanish American expedition comprises several scientific essays and measurements that would fit the facetious description of a "sheet riddled with proper names and numbers". His 1825 geological essay "Esquisse d'un tableau g�ognostique de l'Am�rique m�ridionale, au nord de la rivi�re des Amazones et � l'est du m�ridien de la Sierre Nevada de M�rida" falls in the same category. - Humboldt's most intimate friend in Paris was the astronomer Fran�ois Arago. From a diary entry of the German geographer Carl Ritter we know that Humboldt was keenly interested in the events surrounding the death of Louis XVIII. The day after the King's passing, Humboldt belatedly joined a soir�e of Arago's, bringing the latest news from the palace. - With small loss to paper through breaking of the seal, trace of old restauration and recipient's note in brown ink "M. de humboldt". - Cf. U. Leitner, Humboldt, Cotta, Ritter. Eine Miszelle �ber die Arbeit an einer Edition. In: International Review for Humboldt Studies 16, 2008.

Large 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. Written during the European Revolutions of 1848 to an unnamed minister about Arnold Mendelssohn (1817-1854), a cousin of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: "Darf ich es wagen, theuerste Excellenz, mitten unter den zunehmenden unheimlichen Bewegungen der Hauptstadt Sie an Ihr Wohlwollen f�r mich, an die Bittschrift zu erinnern, die Sie die Gewogenheit haben wollten, in meinem Namen (in Angelegenheit der hoch betr�bten Mendelsohnschen Familie) dem K�nig zu �berreichen. Die Sache liegt mir schmerzhaft am Herzen! [.]". - In 1846, Arnold Mendelssohn had become involved in the so-called "Casket Affair", which ruined his life: for the theft of a casket, the content of which was thought to be vital to Ferdinand Lassalle's court case, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment and lost the privilege to practise as physician. His accomplices, Alexander Oppenheim and Lassalle, were acquitted. Alexander von Humboldt interceded on his behalf, and Mendelssohn was pardoned in 1849, but was banished from Germany. - Somewhat wrinkled; the reverse of fol. 2 slightly spotty.

Various formats. Altogether 3� pp. on 9 ff. Some with autogr. address. Fine collection of letters to various recipients, concerning Arnold Mendelssohn and the so-called "Casket Affair" (I), an appointment (II and III), etc. - I: N. p., [presumably ca. 1830]. Written during the European revolutions of 1848 to an unnamed minister about Arnold Mendelssohn (1817-54), a cousin of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: "Darf ich es wagen, theuerste Excellenz, mitten unter den zunehmenden unheimlichen Bewegungen der Hauptstadt Sie an Ihr Wohlwollen f�r mich, an die Bittschrift zu erinnern, die Sie die Gewogenheit haben wollten, in meinem Namen (in Angelegenheit der hoch betr�bten Mendelssohnschen Familie) dem K�nig zu �berreichen. Die Sache liegt mir schmerzhaft am Herzen! [.]". Somewhat wrinkled; the reverse of fol. 2 slightly spotty. In 1846, Arnold Mendelssohn had become involved in the so-called "Casket Affair", which ruined his life: for the theft of a casket, the content of which was thought to be vital to Ferdinand Lassalle's court case, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment and lost the privilege to practise as physician. His accomplices, Alexander Oppenheim and Lassalle, were acquitted. Alexander von Humboldt interceded on his behalf, and Mendelssohn was pardoned in 1849, but was banished from Germany. - II: N. p., 19 Nov. (n. y.). To "Herr Boguslawski", i. e. the meteorologist Georg von Boguslawski (1827-84), about an appointment. Folded for mailing, torn where unsealed, a bit marked, pencil notations by a previous owner on one blank portion, and with some denting. - III: Paris, [ca. 1817]. To an unidentified recipient: "[.] Les travaux de Mr le Chevalier Millin [!] meriteroient des encouragemens bien plus grands et par la profondeur des recherches et par le noble desinteressement de l'auteur [.]". - IV: "Berlin Sonntag Abend". Somewhat spotty. To Prince Adalbert of Prussia, with thanks for granting him something he had asked for. - V: "En dimanche", n. p. To the wife of the composer Gasparo Spontini, Catherine Marie C�leste, born Erard: "Mr de Humboldt [.] profitera � Paris de la permission d'admirer les beaux tableaux de Mr. Erard, l'homme c�l�bre dont la g�nie est admir� dans l'Europe enti�re [.]". Slightly browned due to paper and somewhat spotty; right edge strongly creased; clipped section on f. 2 due to broken seal (not touching text). - V: Paris, 1821. In French, to a Paris bookseller, ordering several volumes. Folded, with remnants of a wax seal and corresponding abrasion where unsealed; few marks.

8vo. Together 10 pp. With 1 autograph envelope with traces of seal. In French. Highly interesting and substantial correspondence with his Parisian banker and friend Auguste L�o (1793-1859), a business associate of Humboldt's Berlin based bank Mendelssohn & Co. In his letters, Humboldt shifts seamlessly from financial matters, mostly payment orders, to private conversations, both of which illuminate important aspects of his life during this period. - The familiarity between Humboldt and L�o, as well as Humboldt's generosity, is on display in the earliest dateable letter of the collection from 1835. The letter was delivered by a Swiss engineer named Loba who was seeking a Prussian patent "under the supervision of our tyrant Beuth", referring to the Prussian administrator and reformer Peter Beuth, for a measuring instrument. Humboldt asks L�o "to sacrifice a few moments to Mr. Loba and give him some advice", assuming that he knows the Prussian "forms of patent legislation." In closing, he praises the famous portraitist Henri Lehmann: "I am still under the spell of the beautiful and solid talent of Mr. Lehmann. His person can increase this charm". Lehmann's portrait of Humboldt, now on display at the Deutsches Historisches Museum, was commissioned by Auguste L�o and his wife in 1835. - A letter from 3 October 1838 is a perfect example for the charming combination of business and private correspondence: "I returned safe and sound from Cherbourg, I dined with M. [Mathieu] Mol� who feels quite relieved about the resolution of the Swiss affairs, in the evening I was also at the Tuileries, where they are also content and I am again taking up the course of my boring impressions. [.] Might I ask you that day for the sum of 1000 francs on my account. I certainly will give you a receipt of 2000 F due to the reimbursement in Berlin". - On 26 November 1838, Humboldt asks to disburse a sum to his servant and later heir Johann Seifert, who "will also present Mr. Ernst, engineer of physical instruments, with a small note from my hand for 150 francs". After summing up his liabilities, Humboldt mentions Mathieu Mol� again, as well as Benjamin Delessert, to whom he had apparently talked on L�o's behalf: "I expect that you ask from our friend M. Mendelssohn amounting to what I am importuning you here. I transferred 9100 Fr to him. It almost looks like I am getting my finances in order. I talked to M. Delessert and M. Mol� for help from the Chambers. I found them most inclined towards you, especially the former in a more explicit way [.]". - In a letter dated "Ce samedi" that was written in the "distress and tumults" of Humboldt's upcoming departure for Berlin, he asks L�o to settle some payments, including one to the cartographer and printmaker Pierre Antoine Tardieu, and talks humorously about a previous cold: "My enormous cold has much improved. However, something from the renaissance mixed with it because I had to look at the freezing apartments of Mad. the Baroness Salomon, where some Leo X is grafted onto Charlemagne". - The most exceptional letter in the collection, dated "this Monday", was written ahead of a visit to the French Minister of the Interior and is worth quoting extensively, for its wit, humor, and sharp political analysis: "I am completely guilty, my dear and excellent friend, not only of having left your brilliant and agreeable company so early yesterday but also of having been fooled by my memory. After having consulted my gastronomical archives, I discovered that since 8 J[anuary] I am expected on Thursday 2 Febr. at the Minister of the Interior. Dare I ask you to consult my benefactor, Madame L�o, and to ask her for chairs [.] Voil�, in Prussia many antiliberal things [are happening] that disquiet me. This is the cursed dualistic system, the fear that affects the governments immediately after a bit of courage. That's 1788 and 1789". - A particularly charming letter can be dated to 1841 due to its comments on Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music for Ludwig Tieck's staging of "Antigone" that had been commissioned by King Frederick William IV of Prussia: "The astronomer Wilhelm Beer-M�dler already writes me full of bitterness and mockery on behalf of Felix [Mendelssohn], whom the King has forced to compose the chorus for a Greek tragedy (Sophocles' Antigone) which the Monarch has had the whim to have translated by Tieg [Tieck] and which is to be performed and sung at Court. The astronomer suggests that since Antigone is not Lutheran, or at least not very Lutheran, Felix will be soporific. Understand that the letter is not from Meyerbeer, an Italian abbot who is much more reserved". - The final two letters in the collection tell a story of Humboldt's magnanimity being sorely tested. In the earlier letter, dated 30 November, Humboldt asks L�o to disburse 50 �cus to Karl von Gagern, an otherwise unknown son of the Prussian lieutenant Gustav von Gagern. Humboldt did not know Karl personally but "his parents who are in Potsdam". On a Wednesday soon thereafter, Humboldt writes again to L�o, first asking him to make a final payment to Achille Valenciennes for his contribution to the final instalment of Humboldt's "Receuil d'observations de zoologie", before returning to Karl von Gagern, now in a very different tone: "I do not regret having thrown away 50 �cus on a M. Charles de Gagern because he is the son of a respectable lady from Potsdam, brother-in-law of M. de Siebold, the famous traveller to Japan, but I consider it impolite that he did not send me a thank-you note nor responded to the reproaches that I addressed to him in writing a few days ago. Since my hunter [Johann Seifert] is no strong linguist, I dare to ask you, out of pure curiosity, to inquire [.] whether he still resides in Paris. I do not want his money but less rude proceedings". In a postscript, Humboldt relates that he received a letter from Helmina von Ch�zy in Heidelberg, informing him that she has received 133 �cus. - Trac.

8vo. � p. With autogr. envelope. To Count Valori, Prince Rustichelli (i. e. Henri Valori-Rustichelli, 18341898), transmitting him an invitation (to Sanssouci?): Il a �t� inutile d'�crire � Sanssouci. Je viens de voir la personne qui est charg� des Invitations. Monsieur le Comte de Valori (Prince de Rustichelli) est invit� pour 3h. L'ordre a �t� envoy�� Berlin. Mille respectueux et affectueux hommages". Sprache: fr.

4to (200 x 255 mm). 2 pp. With marginal sketch of the instrument. To the mathematician and astronomer Louis Benjamin Francoeur (1773-1849), concerning a new artificial horizon. - A report by Francoeur ("[.] sur deux instruments d'astronomie pr�sent�s par M. Ducom, professeur d'hydrographie � Bordeaux"), published in the "Bulletin de la Soci�t� d'Encouragement" XI (1823), prompted Humboldt to write this letter with his own suggestions for further improving the first of these, Ducom's artificial horizon. He informs him that the instrument attributed to Ducom, which consists of 2 measuring tubes placed in advance beneath the sun's angle of reflection, was invented by Mr. K�hler in Dresden, whose instrument he described in detail 15 years ago. He states that there is nothing new about Ducom's artificial horizon but the application of the metal fabric owed to Mr. Brosle: "Monsieur, ayant lu ce matin un int�ressant rapport que vous avez fait, Monsieur, � la Soci�t� d'encouragement pour un nouvel horizon artificiel attribu� � Mr Ducom [.] j'ai pens� qu'il pourrait vous �tre agr�able d'apprendre que cet appareil de 2 tubes gradu�s et plac�s d'avance sous l'angle de r�flexion du soleil [.] est une invention de Mr K�hler � Dresde [.] J'ai d�crit cet appareil tr�s clairement dans l'introduction de mon recueil d'obs. astronomiques [.] ouvrage publi� depuis quinze ans avec les tubes de Mr K�hler [.] il n'y a rien de neuf � ce qu'il para�t dans l'appareil de Mr Ducom que l'application de la toile m�tallique due � Mr Brosle [.] vous trouverez peut-�tre, l'occasion, Monsieur, de rappeler vous-m�me l'invention de l'astronome de Dresde, mort depuis longtemps [.]". - Rather brittle; traces of original folds; remnants of later mounting tabs on reverse; narrow strip at right edge browned (with the reverse more evenly browned). Short tear to right hand edge affecting the text but without loss, professionally restored.

Large 4to. 1� pp. on bifolium. A letter of recommendation to an unnamed "Excellency" on behalf of Heinrich (Henry) Lange, a young geographer and painter who had once worked on A. K. Johnston's "Physical Atlas", and whom Humboldt wanted to provide with a position at the Prussian Plankammer. - Contemporary note; somewhat spotty and minor edge defects.

4to. 3� pp. on bifolium. Fine, interesting letter to Wilhelm von Haidinger (1795-1871), the famous Austrian mineralogist, geologist and physicist, commenting on Haidinger's scientific achievements, his own life-long research, and on colleagues and friends such as Wildenow, Buch, Bonpland, Gay-Lussac, Arago and Boussingault: "Sie haben mich durch liebensw�rdige Briefe erfreut und so bin [ich] tief in Ihrer Schuld. Von woher k�nnte, in Deutschland, einem uralten Manne etwas aufmuntenderes zukommen als von Ihnen der nicht bloss so viel durch eigene Arbeit in den verschiedensten F�chern der Chrystallographie [.] und allgemeinen Gebirgskunde, als Mineraloge und scharfsinniger Physiker geleistet, sondern auch [durch] seinen Muth, seine Th�tigkeit und die allgemeine Achtung, die er als Mensch genie�t, so vieles angeregt und geschaffen hat. Da� der Ausdruck meines Dankes so versp�tet ist, liegt an der f�r mich so bewegten Zeit, zerstreut durch so viele zum Theil leider wenig wissenschaftliche Pflichten, die ich, neben dem unvorsichtigen [?] Kosmos, �bernommen [.] Wie dankbar und ger�hrt habe ich zwei edle Geschenke empfangen: das Exemplar der so gelungenen Lithographie, das Bildnis Ihres verewigten, die Wissenschaften (so kr�ftig und von den Zeitgenossen anerkannt) erweiternden Vaters Karl Haidinger; die geistreiche anziehende Medaille die uns den Praesidenten der geolog. Reichsanstalt und der Wiener geogr. Gesellschaft Wilhelm gleichsam vergegenw�rtigte. Solche Liebesgeschenke haben haben einen dauernden Werth, da sie von einer Familie an eine andere �bergehen und der Nachwelt sagen wer sich nahe gestanden im Gem�th und wissenschaftlichen Bed�rfnissen und W�nschen f�r die Zukunft [.]". - Somewhat dusty and spotty; minor damage to edges; slight tears to folds.

1 p. on bifolium, approx. 130 x 200 mm. Addressed on another side in Humboldt's hand with his wax seal and post cancel-stamp. To "Herr Boguslawski", i. e. the meteorologist Georg von Boguslawski (1827-1884), on an appointment. - Folded for mailing, torn where unsealed, a bit marked, pencil notations by a previous owner on one blank portion, and with some denting.

8vo. 1 p. on bifolium. With autograph address and traces of seal. To the sculptor Pierre-Jean David, known as David d'Angers (1788-1856), ahead of a visit to his workshop. Humboldt assumes that an earlier letter had not reached David and kindly asks for an appointment, as he is eager to visit his at�lier and personally to express his admiration for the artist: "Je commence � croire, mon illustre et respectable confr�re, que Vous n'avez pas re�u mon petit billet jett� [!] il y a 3 jours � la Petite Porte sous l'adresse R. Vaugirard n 20. J'ose Vous r�it�rer le vif d�sir que j'ai de pouvoir Vous offrir dans Votre atelier l'hommage de ma constante admiration et je Vous supplie de me fixer, par deux lignes, le jour et le lieu et l'heure que Vous d�sirerez, je pourrai tous les jours depuis mercredi de 11h � 3h [.]". - The letter was probably written during Humboldt's Paris years (1807-26). However, David sculpted a bronze medal with the profile of the great naturalist dated 1831, five years after Humboldt's return to Berlin. A small bronze bust followed in 1844. A copy of the medal is held in the Numismatic collection of the Berlin State Museums. - With traces of folds and small loss to paper through breaking of the seal. Minimal browning and foxing.

2 pp. on bifolium, approx. 100 x 115 mm. Addressed by Humboldt on another side, and with "M. de Humboldt". In French, to a Paris bookseller, ordering several volumes. - Folded, with remnants of a wax seal and corresponding abrasion where unsealed; few marks.

4to. � S. Mit Siegelspur und Adresse. Wasserzeichen: John Hall 1811. Winziger Ausri� an der linken oberen Ecke. An den Verleger Dickins in London wegen der englischen Ausgabe der "Vue des Cordilli�res", die unter dem Titel "Researchs, Concerning the Institutions & Monuments of the Ancient Inhabitants of America" erschien; zu dieser Zeit wurde am zweiten Band gedruckt. - Nach dem (ersten) Sieg der Alliierten �ber Napoleon I. und ihrem Einzug in Paris (am 31. III. 1814) fungierte Alexander von Humboldt als Cicerone des preu�ischen K�nigs Friedrich Wilhelm III. in der damaligen "Hauptstadt der Welt". Anfang Juni begleitete er und sein Bruder Wilhelm den K�nig nach London, wo die Verb�ndeten im Kampf gegen Napoleon begeistert empfangen wurden. "Nous ne pouvons malheureusement comprendre que par des signes et des lettres, J'espere que Voss avez trouv�, mon cher Monsieur, quelques lignes pour l'annonce. Je Voss envoye le livre dans lequel j'ai marqu� ce qui doit etre copi�. Le tour porroit etre imprim� en tr�s petit caractere, J'accepte defintivement les 25 L[ivres] St[erling] espenes Courantes et je Voss remercie de Dos service obligeantes. Je sorts demain matin avec le Roi a 9 heures mais je compte trouver un moment pour aller Vous voir. Je pense que je parirai de Londres mardi".

Oblong small 8vo. 1 p. Mounted. To a General, looking forward to a meeting in Berlin: "Je me flatte de l'espoir que nous poss�derons dans quelques jours Votre Excellence � Berlin: cependant je suis bien d�sireux de pouvoir, ce soir m�me, lui renouveller l'hommage de la haute consid�ration que je lui ai vou�e. Je demande si ces lignes Vous trouveront, cher General, � Votre h�tel ! Une r�ponse verbale suffit. Que je serais heureux d'apprendre que l'aimable Madame de Bazaine (?) ait quitt� aussi pour quelque tems Votre pays 'aux plumes d'Herodote'. Mille respects et hommages!" - Slight damage to edges.

4to. � p. To an unidentified recipient: "[.] Les travaux de Mr le Chevalier Millin [!] meriteroient des encouragemens bien plus grands et par la profondeur des recherches et par le noble desinteressement de l'auteur [.]".

1 S. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo. An einen Staatsrat mit der Bitte, ihm seine Aufwartung machen zu d�rfen: "Je demande comme une faveur particuli�re � Monsieur le Conseiller d'Etat de pouvoir lui offrir mes hommages a Son h�tel apr�s demain jeudi � midi. Ce sont des occupations souvent peu litt�raires qui m'ont emp�ch� de remplir ce devoir. Mr de Dalmatie Vous aura mand� combien je regrette de ne pas avoir pu r�ussir jusqu' ici dans ma petite n�gociation qui me tient � cour. Je suis de n'en �tre pas moins bien re�u, en Vous priant, Monsieur le Conseiller d'Etat, d'agr�er avec bont� l'expression de ma haute Consid�ration [.]". - Stellenweise gering fleckig.

1� SS. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo. An einen nicht genannten Adressaten betreffs der �bersendung seiner 1810 erschienenen "Vues de Cordill�res et monuments des peuples indig�nes de l'Am�rique": "Dans ces moments heureux o� en Vous voyant cr�er, j'ai pu jouir aussi, en Vous �coutant, de tout ce que la chaleur de l'�me et l'�l�vation des sentiments aujourd'hui � l'intelligence, je Vous ai parl� quelquefois de la nature majestueuse des Cordill�res, des premi�res essais de sculpture des Peuples � demi barbare: Permettez, mon cher ami, que je place parmi Vos livres le monstrueux Volume de mes 'Vues de Cordill�res et Monuments des Peuples indig�nes de l'Am�rique' [.]".

1 p. Gr.-8vo. Mit Siegelspur und Adresse. Minimal fleckig. An den Chirurgen Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach.Ich habe neulich nur auf so wenige Augenblikke die Freude gehabt Sie zu sehen ., da� ich Sie einlade mich ja vor meiner baldigen Abreise nach Teplitz (der K�nig geht den 17ten, ich fr�her) noch zu besu- chen. W�ren Sie morgen Montag zwischen 9 und 11 Uhr frei? Ich werde Sie auch um ein kleines Fu��bel consultiren .".

3 SS. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo. An einen nicht genannten Adressaten mit Geleitschreiben f�r einen Grafen auf der Reise nach Preu�en und einer Empfehlung an den F�rsten von Hardenberg: "J'ai �t� bien sensible aux marques de confiance que Mr le Cte Real (?) a bien voulu me donner. J'ai �t� assez heureux de terminer l'affaire dans la matin�e m�me. J'y ai mis le z�le qu'inspire la reconnaissance pour des services que Vous Vous �tes plu � me rendre avec tant de loyaut� dans des circonstances difficiles. Le passeport est pour Aix la Chapelle. Le prince de Hardenberg m'a charg� de Vous t�moigner, M. le Comte, le d�sir qu'il a que Vous Vous adressiez directement � lui chaque fois que pendant Votre s�jour en Prusse Vous aurez besoin d'�tre en rapport avec lui. Je saisis avec empressement cette occasion pour vous renouveler les sentiments de la haute consid�ration avec laquelle j'ai l'honneur d'�tre [.]". - Beide Bll. st�rker knittrig und mit jeweils einem Ausriss am oberen Rand (keine Textber�hrung).